The paper analyses a corpus of metalinguistic texts (grammars, remarks) from the first grammar of French (Palsgrave 1972 [1530]) until today in order to retrace the metalinguistic perceptions and the prescriptive interventions in the domain of the French adverb. It is shown that adverbs ending in <italic>-ment</italic> and paraphrases were favored to the detriment of the old oral tradition of using short adverbs. In the second part, three methods are suggested for measuring the effect metalinguistic considerations and norms have on use. This innovative approach aims at bringing together the diachrony of grammaticography with the diachrony of use. In fact, a more objective approach is crucially needed in the domain of linguistic norm where speculation, polemic argumentation and ideology prevail.